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- "'0 all whom it may concern:

. UNITED STATES PATENT ICE.

MARSHAL E. LENRIL, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRlTlNG-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,886, dated Marchll, 1884.

Application filed October 4, 1883. (No model.)

Be it known that I, MARsHAL E. LENRIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Writing-Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in tables to facilitate the learning of the art of writing; and it consists in a table with an opening in its leaf covered by a transparent glass plate for the transmission of light reflected by a mirror underneath.

The object of my invention is to offer to learners a facility of acquiring the art of writing by so arranging a writing-table that, by

day or at lamp-light, they are enabled to trace or follow the lines of a model or copy upon blank paper, thereby training the hand to reg ularly form the letters and acquire a correct manner of handwriting.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

Figure 1 represents a sectional view. 2 represents a plan view.

A represents a table of ordinary construction. In the leaf of the table is an opening, B, that is covered by a transparent glass plate on a level with the upper surface of the leaf. At the middle of the edge of the leaf is cut out a Fig.

semicircular notch, D, and under it is a drawer, 0. In the bottom of the drawer is a circular hole, a, that when the drawer is drawn out until checked by pins H occupies a place vertically under the notch D. A board, I), of the width of the drawn-out portion of the drawer O, with a semicircular notch, D, in its'edge, is placed on the. top of the drawer, to be on a level with the surface of the leaf, so thatthe two corresponding notches D and D form a circular opening. To the edge, at the opposite side of the notch D in the board I), a board, f, ofthe length of the former, is secured, that extends downward below the drawer. Within the drawer C is a mirror, 0,

that when the drawer is drawn out as far as k the pins allow the mirror occupies a position under the glass plate in the leaf of the table.

Under the drawer, hinged in front to the legs 4 of the table, is a shelf, S.

The table is used as follows, when lamplight is required: On the shelf Sis placed a burning lamp, of which the chimney is passed through the circular hole a in the bottom of the drawer, andpassed into the opening formed by the two semicircular notches D D. The light of the lamp reflected by the mirror is directed upward under and through the glass plate, upon which is first placed the paper on which is the writing that is to be copied or imitated, and on it a blank sheet. It will be found that the writing on the sheet under the latter is plainly visible, and that it can be traced without difficulty. At day-time no artificial light is required, since the light entering into the drawer, the board f being removed, is sufficient for the purpose, but may be rendered more active by darkening the room back of the table.

This device may also be used for tracing drawings, patterns, and other objects.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A writing-table provided with a transparent glass plate in its leaf and a drawer underneath containing a mirror, for the purpose substantially as set forth;

2. A writing -table provided with a trans, parent glass plate in its leaf anda drawer underneath containing a mirror that, when the drawer is drawn out to its full capacity, stands at an angle of forty-five degrees under the glass plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A. GORDON, J12, JAMES MACDONALD. 

